Concealable cosmetic device



April 2, 1966 s. RITZCOVAN 3,245,404

CONCEALABLE COSMETIC DEVICE Filed April 22, 1963 2, Sheets-Sheet 1STEPHfN k l r z gfi iw F I E" -4- Y B 5X40; i M

A TTORNE Y5 A ril 12, 1966 s. RITZCOVAN 3,245,404

CONCEALABLE COSMETIC DEVICE Filed April 22, 1963 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVENTOR.

STEPHEN R/TZCOVAN BY '1 I E- 5 #M A T TORNE Y5 United States Patent3,245,404 CONCEALABLE COSMETIC DEVICE Stephen Ritzcovan, 525 LeavenworthSt.,

San Francisco, Calif. Filed Apr. 22, 1963, Ser. No. 274,423 3 Claims.(Cl. 128-76) This invention relates to improvements in a concealablecosmetic device and more particularly to cosmetic devices of thecharacter defined in my copending application Serial No. 114,505 filedJune 2, 1961 for Cosmetc Device and Method of Applying Same, nowabandoned, and my copending application Serial No. 124,720, filed July17, 1961 for Concealable Cosmetic Device, now United States Patent No.3,119,389, issued January 28, 1964, and the present application is acontinuation-in-part of these applications.

'With advancing age, human beings tend to develop unsightly folds andwrinkles under the chin. Heretofore, smoothing out of the chain line hasrequired resorting to a plastic surgery operation commonly known asfacelifting in which the surplus tissue is removed so as to pull theremaining tissue back to a youthful tautness.

The present invention is concerned with the use of a cosmetic devicewhich is adapted to smooth out under-thechin folds and wrinkles in amanner calculated to create a more youthful and pleasing appearance.

Various devices have been proposed for eliminating or reducing differentkind-s of facial wrinkles. None of these devices can be worn inconcealed position while affording a temporary face-lift of thecharacter provided by the present invention. Most of the devices aredesigned to be worn inthe privacy of the home or beauty shop and areintended for eradicating wrinkles rather than for drawing back the looseskin so that the wrinkles will be smoothed out and become invisible.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to'provide amethod and apparatus for effecting a temporary face-lift withoutresorting to surgery.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cosmetic device whichmay be worn in concealed position beneath the garments or other apparelof the user and which is effective for pulling back and smoothing outloose, sagging tissues to provide an attractive, youthful appearance tothe under-chin area.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cosmetic device ofthe'character described which is easy and simple to apply, which willremain firmly in place over long periods of time without causing undueirritation to the skin of the wearer, and which may be readily removedand disposed of upon retiring.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a cosmetic deviceof the character described which is of simple, sturdy construction andwhich is economical enough to permit the use of a fresh device everyday.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide means for effectivelyconcealing the cosmetic band beneath an ornamental strip-like article ofapparel, such as a necklace.

Another object of the invention is to provide a concealing article ofthe character set forth which may be easily and simply adjusted todifierent size necks and which will remain firmly in place at all times.

Another object of the invention is to provide a con cealable cosmeticdevice of the character described which is of simple, sturdyconstruction and which is is adapted for use with a wide variety ofconcealing means.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent as thespecification progresses, and the new and useful features of myconcealable cosmetic device will be fully defined in the claims attachedhereto.

The preferred forms of my invention are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing forming part of this application, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of one form of a concealablecosmetic device constructed in accordance with the present inventionwhich is especially adapted for use by men and shown in operativeposition on the neck of the wearer;

FIGURE 2, a top view of the device shown in FIGURE 1 as it appears priorto application on the neck of the wearer;

FIGURE 3, a bottom view of the device shown in FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4, a cross-sectional view of a portion of the device as seen inthe plane of line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5, a side elevational view of another form of a concealablecosmetic device constructed in accordance with the present inventionwhich is especially adapted for the use by women and shown in operativeposition on the neck of the wearer;

FIGURE 6, a top view of the device shown in FIG- URE 5, as it apeparsprior to application on the neck of the wearer;

FIGURE 7, a bottom view of the device shown in FIG- I claims attachedhereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail and the embodiment of FIGURES 1through 4 in particular, it will be seen that the cosmetic device 11 ofthe present invention comprises a flexible band 12 having a lengthsufiicient to nearly encircle a human neck and being provided with anadhesive layer 13 and cloth strips 14 held onto'the adhesive layer 13and pressure-sensitive adhesive strips 16 on the cloth strip 14 on theopposite ends 17 and 18 thereof, the pressure-sensitive adhesive strips16 extending over areas sufficient to maintain adherence to the skin ofthe neck at opposite sides of the throat with the band under tensionwhereby the loose skin of the neckand throat will be drawn rea-rwardlyso as to stretch the tissues and minimize wrinkles. Before application,the exposed surfaces of the pressure-sensitive adhesive strips 15 arecovered with plastic covers 19.

The method of applying the band 11 consists essentially in removing theplastic covers 19 and adhering one of the ends 17 or 18of the band otthe skin of the lower front portion of the human neck at one side of thelarynx, drawing the loose skin of the neck rearwardly so 'as to reduceand erase under-the-chin folds and wrinkles, passing the free end'of theband around the back of the neck, and adhering the free end to the skinof the lower front portion of the neck in approximate horizontalalignment with the other end .and on the opposite side of the larynx,with the band under suflicient tension to main tain the loose skin inits rearwardly drawn condition. It should be noted that before the freeend is adhered to the skin, the band 11 is pulled sufficiently tight toinsure that it will maintain the loose skin in its rearwardly drawncondition.

As illustrated in FIGURE 1, the band should 'be applied low enough to beconcealed by the shirt collar or other apparel of the wearer. I havefound that the band should be positioned at approximately the junctureof the rear of the neck with the body, and the ends 17 and 3 18 shouldbe approximately level with the bottom of the Adams apple. The dottedline 21 of FIGURE 1 illustrates the normal sagging position of thethroat tissue while the solid line 22 illustrates the position thethroat tissues will assume when the cosmetic band 11- is correctlyapplied.

By virtue of its size and shape the band may be psitioned in the mannershown and described, and because of this positioning it is easy for thewearer to conceal the band under a portion of his garment such as thesli rtf collar 23 or under other apparel such as a neckere ie t inordinary use the band 11 will be applied in the morning and left inposition throughout the entire day. Because pressure-sensitive adhesivesare affected by the oil and other materials normally present on thehuman skin, the adhesive areas should be fairly large and the deviceshould be discarded after each use.

In the preferred construction of the cosmetic band, the band 12 isformed of a flexible, nonstretchable material such as a woven fabrictape or strip of plastic. I prefer to use a plastic-impregnated clothtape of flesh color. In order to avoid undue irritation of the skin ofthe wearer, I prefer to provide a woven fabric facing for the lining orcloth strip 14 which is soft and smooth. A flesh-colored satin isparticularly suitable.

Protection for the exposed areas of pressure-sensitive adhesive isprovided by the smooth plastic covers or strips 19 which are easilyremovable at the time of use. Light-gauge plastic sheeting such aspolyvinyl acetate or the like will be suitable for this purpose but thematerial chosen should possess a lower adhesion coefficient for theadhesive used than the material of the cloth strip 14 on which theadhesive is held.

Referring to FIGURES 5 through 9, there is shown a concealable cosmeticdevice 11a constructed according to the present invention which includesa flexible 'band 12a having an adhesive layer 13a over an entire surfacethereof and pressure-sensitive adhesive strips 16a on the opposite orrear surface of band 12a at the ends 17a and 18a thereof, together withan ornamental strip-like article '26 formed to encircle the neck of thewearer in covering relation to the band 12a so as to conceal the latterfrom view.

The band 12a is under sufficient tension to draw the loose skin of theneck and throat rearwardly so as to stretch the tissues and minimizewrinkles. Naturally, the band 12a should be concealed, and, due to itsposition, concealment is simple where the user is wearing a high collar.In many instances fashion demands that lownecked or necklace garments beworn the present invention is directed to means for effectivelyconcealing the band 12a under such circumstances.

In the form illustrated in FIGURES 5 through 9 the flexible band 12ashould have the combined properties of flexible band 12 and cloth strip14 mentioned above, That is, it shouldbe nonstretchable and have asatin-like surface which is nonirritating to the skin.

In accordance with the present invention the necklace is held on theband 12a by the layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive 13a. The adhesiveis adapted to removably secure the necklace 26 in covering relation tothe band 12a. Prior to application of the device, the outer surface ofthe adhesive is protected by a plastic cover 27 similar to t p a c o e 1a d 1.

In general, the ornament 26 may be any necklace or similar articlecapable of coveriing up the band 12a. As shown in FIGURES 5 and 9, thenecklace is preferably composed of a double row of beads 28 fitting sideby side in partial interlocking relation as best shown in FIG- URE 9.Preferably the necklace will be drawn tight enough to hold it in placeat each end of the band 12a, and neckaces capable of adjustment areparticularly suitable. A typical adjustable necklace is composed ofinterlocking plastic beads as shown in FIGURE 9 in which the length ofthe necklace may be adjusted by adding or removing beads.

From the foregoing description, it is seen that I have provided aconcealable cosmetic device which may be concealed -by ordinary clothingmeans or by ornaments such as a necklace. In order to provide easyfabrication, the basic form includes a band having a layer of adhesivecompletely covering one surface thereof together with such otherstructure that adhesive is provided at each end of the band to hold thesame in place. Accordingly, it is seen that I have provided a novel andoriginal cosmetic device and method of applying same which affords manyof the beneficial effects of a face-lifting operation without requiringsurgery and which accomplishes its purposes in an invisible andundetectable manner.

I claim:

1. In combination, a cosmetic device for minimizing throat and neckwrinkles and an item of wearing apparel of a size large enough to coverand conceal the cosmetic device, said item of wearing apparel being heldin juxtaposed position to the cosmetic device to positively conceal thedevice, said cosmetic device comprising a nonstretchable flexible bandhaving a length sufficient to nearly encircle a human neck, a layer ofpressuresensitive adhesive substantially entirely covering one surfaceof said band, a satin facing of the same length and width as said bandand adhered to said layer of adhesive, and strips of pressure-sensitiveadhesive on the satin facing at the opposite ends of said satin facingand on the side opposite the side adhered to the band, said strips ofpressure sensitive adhesive having sufiicient area to maintain adherenceto the skin of the neck with the band under tension whereby the looseskin of the neck and throat will be drawn rearwardly so as to stretchthe tissues and minimize wrinkles.

2. The cosmetic device defined in claim 1, in which the item of wearingapparel is a collar.

3. The cosmetic device defined in claim 1, in which-the item of wearingapparel is a necklace comprising two rows of beads fitting ininterlocking side-by-side relationship.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 895,295 8/1908Paris 128-76 2,039,142 4/1936 Brehm 128-351 2,211,378 8/1940 Lindi128163 2,688,324 9/1954 McCarthy l2876 3,119,389 1/1964 Ritzcovan 128-76FOREIGN PATENTS 217,083 6/1924 Great Britain.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner,

1. IN COMBINATION, A COSMETIC DEVICE FOR MINIMIZING THROAT AND NECKWRINKLES AND AN ITEM OF WEARING APPAREL OF A SIZE LARGE ENOUGH TO COVERAND CONCEAL THE COSMETIC DEVICE, SAID ITEM OF WEARING APPAREL BEING HELDIN JUXTAPOSED POSITION TO THE COSMETIC DEVICE TO POSITIVELY CONCEAL THEDEVICE, SAID COSMETIC DEVICE COMPRISING A NONSTRETCHABLE FLEXIBLE BANDHAVING A LENGTH SUFFICIENT TO NEARLY ENCIRCLE A HUMAN NECK, A LAYER OFPRESSURESENSITIVE ADHESIVE SUBSTANTIALLY ENTIRELY COVERING ONE SURFACEOF SAID BAND, A SATIN FACING OF THE SAME LENGTH